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Isle of Barra Inverness-shire Scotland

 Subject

Staff Only
Subject Source: Local sources

Found in 280 Collections and/or Records:

Story about being given goods by a shopkeeper and vocabulary, 1901

 Item
Identifier: Coll-97/CW110/7
Scope and Contents

Story probably collected from a traveller in Isle of Barra [Barraigh] about being given 'salt tobacco and a fine comb' by a shopkeeper In Stornoway [Steòrnabhagh, Eilean Leòdhais/Isle of Lewis] and vocabulary note. Text has been scored through as if transcribed elsewhere.

Dates: 1901
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Carmichael-Watson Collection / Field notebook of Alexander Carmichael

Story about Caibeal Bharra, September 1872

 Item
Identifier: Coll-97/CW90/159
Scope and Contents

Story about Caibeal Bharra [Cille-Bharra, Barraigh/Isle of Barra] that its stones were used by Colonel [Roderick] MacNeil to build roads and dykes in Eoligarry [Eòlaigearraidh], on the advice of a mason named [Peter] Dawson, and that the colonel never prospered after that. Carmichael describes the chapel as having been 'high & large. Full of skulls & bones taken up fr[om] the graves'. The story has been scored through lightly in pencil.

Dates: September 1872
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Carmichael-Watson Collection / Field notebook of Alexander Carmichael

Story about Calum Cille [St Columba] and his travels around the islands of Scotland and Blàr na Cuigeal, September 1872

 Item
Identifier: Coll-97/CW90/131
Scope and Contents Story about Calum Cille [St Columba] and his travels around the islands of Scotland probably collected from James Campbell, fisherman, Ceanntangabhal/Kentangval, Barraigh/Isle of Barra. The story notes that the castle on Loch Tangasdail was built by St Clair [Dùn Mhic Leòid, Loch Tangasdale, Barraigh/Isle of Barra], that St Clair married a woman from Kintail [Ceann Tàile, Ros is Cromba/Ross and Cromarty] and that he had eight hundred men who fought for him, although none of the men were from...
Dates: September 1872
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Carmichael-Watson Collection / Field notebook of Alexander Carmichael

Story about Captain Scott on Isle of Barra and Mingulay, 1867

 Item
Identifier: Coll-97/CW114/72
Scope and Contents Story about Captain [Caroline] Scott probably collected from Roderick MacNeil, aged 88, crofter, Miùghlaigh/Mingulay. Described as 'notorious', the story states how Scott and his soldiers who carried themselves 'most ferociously' hanged a big, strong man named Iain mac Fhearchair ic Mhurachaidh ic Neill with out a trial or a judge. The story tells how the soldiers 'amused them[selves] by flaying the cattle of the people alive and allowing them to run mad about the island.' One man wisely...
Dates: 1867
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Carmichael-Watson Collection / Field notebook belonging to Alexander Carmichael

Story about caves, September 1872

 Item
Identifier: Coll-97/CW90/156
Scope and Contents

Story about caves which reads '4 men ent[ered] Uaimh nam figeann Creaga Lauir 1 a piper had candles Sui Lanauir ex[tinguished] the candles. The dog came out hairless at Uamh Sloc-an-Duine Gearygal.' [Creag an La'uir, and Gearraidh Gadhal/Garrygal, both Barraigh/Isle of Barra].

Dates: September 1872
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Carmichael-Watson Collection / Field notebook of Alexander Carmichael

Story about Clach Mhòr na Gleannan, 24 September 1872

 Item
Identifier: Coll-97/CW90/105
Scope and Contents

Story about Clach Mhòr na Gleannan [Barraigh/Isle of Barra], that it was thrown by a Lochlannach [Viking] at his sweetheart from Fuidey [Fuidheigh/Fuday]. When it struck her, it drove her into the ground and there is now a large boulder stuck in the earth there. The Lochlannach 'did'nt (sic) wish to kill her but just throw this as a spitheag at her'.

Dates: 24 September 1872
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Carmichael-Watson Collection / Field notebook of Alexander Carmichael

Story about Coinneach nan Tarbh and the Luideag, 23 March 1871

 Item
Identifier: Coll-97/CW119/5
Scope and Contents Tale concerning Coinneach nan Tarbh and the Luideag, probably told by John Pearson or John MacPherson, cottar, Ceann Tangabhal/Kentangaval, Barraigh/Barra. Coinneach caught the Luideag, the Barra equivalent of the Glaistig or Bean-nighidh, at a stream and would not release her until she promised to herd his cattle safely for a year and a day. She promised to do so, and for this time the cattle were herded by a white dog, whining, accompanied by an incessant lament. The cattle fold door would...
Dates: 23 March 1871
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Carmichael-Watson Collection / Field notebook belonging to Alexander Carmichael

Story about Coinneach Odhar [The Brahan Seer], 3 January 1872

 Item
Identifier: Coll-97/CW90/9
Scope and Contents Story collected at Gramsdall [Gramasdail/Gramsdale, Beinn na Faoghla/Benbecula] about Coinneach Odhar [The Brahan Seer] telling how following a dream he had, he got his powers of prophesy from a stone in a box he had found on the strand. Later he threw the stone into a loch near Loch Ness and it was said that when the stone is recovered all his prophesies will come true. The story also lists several of Coinneach Odhar's prophesies relating to Uist and Barra including the presence of grey...
Dates: 3 January 1872
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Carmichael-Watson Collection / Field notebook of Alexander Carmichael

Story about Cu'ai and Ni[ghean] Ri[gh] Lochlann, 3 February 1874

 Item
Identifier: Coll-97/CW111/48
Scope and Contents

Story about Cu'ai and Ni[ghean] Ri[gh] Lochlann telling how they were married to one another and lived at Dun-Crannaig (Sgeirval) [Dùn Crannag or Dùn Sgùrabhal, Barraigh/Isle of Barra] and how Nighean Rìgh Lochlann went to see her father in Norway and on her return Cu'ai went to meet her and scolded her for being away so long. An explanatory note states 'Cu'ai the husband (Clann na h-Ialain = Ohenleys)'.

Dates: 3 February 1874
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Carmichael-Watson Collection / Field notebook belonging to Alexander Carmichael

Story about Donl Gorm Mor Shleibhte and accompanying note, 23 March 1871

 Item
Identifier: Coll-97/CW119/8
Scope and Contents Story probably told by John Pearson or MacPherson, cottar, Ceann Tangabhal/Kentangaval, Barraigh/Isle of Barra, concerning the supernatural visitation of Donl Gorm Mor Shleibhte [Sir Donald Gorm Mòr MacDonald of Sleat], who had apparently died on campaign, to his son Donald Gorm Og, uttering a threatening rhyme. The ghost's foster-brother told the son to turn every chair to the wall and light the fir candles. The story is interrupted by a note which reads 'The moil [shingle] on the west...
Dates: 23 March 1871
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Carmichael-Watson Collection / Field notebook belonging to Alexander Carmichael